‘Direct airlines to provide cash refund to passengers’

Former chief minister and member of legislative Assembly Prithviraj Chavan and member of Rajya Sabha from the Shiv Sena Anil Desai have written to aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri to clarify the ministry’s stand on passengers who could not fly due to the nationwide lockdown. The letter also seeks Puri to direct airlines to provide a cash refund to passengers who had booked their tickets before March 25 for travel dates during the lockdown.

Chavan in his letter dated June 14, requested clarification on refund policies and to direct airlines to prevent abuse of consumer rights and provide a choice of cash refunds with settlement in a specific time period. His letter read, “Indian consumers who had to cancel their flight tickets after announcement of the lockdown are entitled to receive cash refunds.”

Citing the Consumer Protection Act, Chavan added, “The contract between the airlines and the consumers gives the right to consumers to seek cash refund.